Robert De Niro and his eldest daughter, Drena, attended the same New York celebration on September 22, stepping out for the Through Her Lens: The Tribeca CHANEL Women’s Filmmaker Program luncheon at Locanda Verde.
The 83-year-old actor and his daughter, an actress and filmmaker herself, were photographed separately inside the restaurant as guests gathered to support emerging women filmmakers.
Drena wore a fitted black top with a square neckline and short cap sleeves, tucked into grey checked trousers. She layered a small circular pendant with a longer necklace featuring a teardrop-shaped pendant, adding stud earrings, rings and a silver-toned watch.
Her dark hair was swept back, while a pink lip completed her understated look. Posing beside an arrangement of pink and white flowers, she also revealed the floral tattoo on her forearm.
Robert opted for an olive-green jacket over a navy polo shirt, with grey-green trousers and rectangular glasses. He was photographed beside his longtime producing partner and fellow Tribeca co-founder, Jane Rosenthal.
Robert De Niro and Drena’s New York appearance
The luncheon marked the beginning of this year’s Through Her Lens programme, which offered emerging filmmakers mentorship, development support and funding.
Guests included Halle Berry, Regina King, Riley Keough and Emmy Rossum, who gathered at the restaurant ahead of a three-day workshop for the selected participants.
Robert also helped celebrate a personal milestone for Jane, who had turned 70 the previous day. The actor surprised her with a birthday cake during the gathering, adding a celebratory moment to the afternoon. For Drena, the occasion brought together two familiar worlds: her family and filmmaking.
© WireImageWhat Drena De Niro said about her father
Although Drena has largely kept the details of their relationship private, she has shared affectionate glimpses of family life on social media.
For Robert’s 81st birthday in August 2024, she posted photographs of him with his grandchildren, alongside footage of him jumping from a boat into the sea.
She called him her “#1 ride or die” in the birthday message, while a separate childhood photograph of Robert holding her carried the words: “Happy Birthday to the King of the jungle.”
The collection also included photographs of Robert with Drena’s late son, Leandro, capturing their relationship across the years.
© WireImageDrena De Niro’s career in film
Drena is the daughter of actress Diahnne Abbott from a previous relationship. Robert adopted her during his marriage to Diahnne, becoming her father long before she embarked on her own entertainment career.
Her work has extended beyond acting. Before moving into film, she modelled, worked as a DJ and became a music design consultant for Giorgio Armani.
She wrote, directed and produced the 2001 short documentary Girls and Dolls, which won a best directorial debut award at the New York Independent Film and Video Festival.
Her screen credits also included Joy and Hands of Stone, reflecting a career that developed alongside her work behind the camera.
© AFP via Getty ImagesRobert De Niro’s honest comments about parenting
Robert recently acknowledged the difficulty of balancing a demanding acting career with being present for his children.
Speaking to People in August 2026, he explained that decades of parenting had not supplied a simple formula. “I don’t know if there is a secret,” he said. “It’s just managing it all.”
He also admitted feeling guilty about occasions when work or other commitments meant he could not be there when he believed he should. The film, in which he played Adam Scott’s estranged father, prompted him to reflect on the uncertainty that accompanied becoming a parent.
© Penske Media via Getty ImagesWho are Robert De Niro’s seven children?
Drena is the eldest of Robert’s seven children. He and Diahnne also share son Raphael, who pursued a career in New York real estate.
Robert later welcomed twins Julian and Airyn with actress Toukie Smith. With Grace Hightower, he welcomed son Elliot and daughter Helen Grace.
His youngest daughter, Gia, was born in April 2023 to Robert and his partner, Tiffany Chen. She was three at the time of his latest outing.
The family also experienced a devastating loss when Drena’s son, Leandro, died in July 2023 at 19. Drena has continued to remember him publicly, including through the family photographs she shared in her father’s birthday tribute.
© Getty ImagesRobert De Niro on becoming a father again
Robert has spoken warmly about the happiness Gia brought into his life after he became a father again at 79.
In his 2024 interview with AARP, he described how spending time with his youngest daughter offered a respite from everyday worries. “Everything that I’m consumed with or worried about or this and that just goes away when I look at [Gia],” he said.
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